Combined electromagnetic and optical communication system

ABSTRACT

A communication system is provided that includes both an electromagnetic (“EM”) communication device and an optical communication device including at least a machine readable symbol where at least a portion of the EM communication device and at least a portion of the machine readable symbol are formed from the same material. This material may be, for example, a conductable ink or a conductable foil. If desired, the EM communication device may include an antenna where at least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the machine readable symbol.

COPYRIGHT AND LEGAL NOTICES

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to a communication system capable ofcommunicating information electromagnetically and optically, and moreparticularly to a communication system having both electromagnetic andoptical communication devices where at least a portion of eachcommunication device is formed of the same material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a communicationsystem is provided that includes both an electromagnetic (“EM”)communication device and an optical communication device where at leasta portion of the EM communication device and at least a portion of theoptical communication device are formed from the same material.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the optical communicationdevice includes a machine readable symbol, such as a bar code symbol.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the EM communicationdevice includes a radio frequency communication device, such as an RFIDtag.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a conductable ink is usedto form at least a portion of the radio frequency communication deviceand at least a portion of the bar code symbol.

According to another embodiment of the invention, at least a portion ofthe radio frequency communication device and at least a portion of thebar code symbol are both formed from a conductable foil through asubtractive process, such as etching.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the bar code symbol isof a format providing for equal width spaces between bars.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the opticalcommunication device includes one or more alphanumeric symbols.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the opticalcommunication device includes one or more logos.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the radio frequencycommunication device includes a memory which stores the same informationencoded in the bar code symbol.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the information storedin the memory of the radio frequency communication devices and encodedin the bar code symbol identify a product.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a protective coveringcover both the radio frequency communication device and the opticalcommunication device, but the information encoded by the opticalcommunication device can still be optically communicated through theprotective covering.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the radio frequencycommunication device and the optical communication device are mounted ona package designed to be opened such that when the package is opened asdesigned, the radio frequency communication device is damaged so that itno longer communicates.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a communication systemcomprises an electromagnetic communication device and an opticalcommunication device. The electromagnetic communication device includesat least an antenna. The optical communication device includes at leastone machine readable symbol. At least a portion of the antenna and atleast a portion of the machine readable symbol are formed from the samematerial. At least a portion of the antenna includes at least a portionof the machine readable symbol.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a communication systemcomprises a radio frequency communication device and an opticalcommunication device. The radio frequency communication device includesat least an antenna. The optical communication device includes at leasta bar code symbol. At least a portion of the antenna and at least aportion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material. Atleast a portion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the barcode symbol.

In an embodiment of the invention, a method provides a communicationssystem that includes a radio frequency communications device and anoptical communications device. The radio frequency communication deviceincludes a communications controller, a memory, and an antenna. Theoptical communications device includes at least a bar code symbol.According to the method, the communications controller and the memory ofthe radio frequency communications device are provided on a substrate.Also, the antenna of the radio frequency communications device and theoptical communications device are provided on the substrate using thesame material for at least a portion of the antenna and at least aportion of the bar code symbol.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method provides acommunications system that includes a radio frequency communicationsdevice and an optical communications device. The radio frequencycommunication device includes a communications controller, a memory, andan antenna. The optical communications device includes at least a barcode symbol. According to the method, the communications controller andthe memory of the radio frequency communications device are provided ona substrate. Also, the antenna of the radio frequency communicationsdevice and the optical communications device are provided on thesubstrate using the same material for at least a portion of the antennaand at least a portion of the bar code symbol so that at least a portionof the antenna includes at least a portion of the bar code symbol.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a conductable ink isused to provide at least a portion of the antenna of the radio frequencycommunication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a conductable foil isused to provide at least a portion of the antenna of the radio frequencycommunication device and at least a portion of the bar code symbol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanyingdrawings, which are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, and in whichlike references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the components of an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is an overhead view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an overhead view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an overhead view of another embodiment of the invention, wherethe optical communication device comprises several parts;

FIG. 5 is an overhead view of another embodiment of the invention, wherethe optical communication device comprises several parts includinglogos; and

FIG. 6 is an overhead view of another embodiment of the invention, wherethe optical communication device comprises a bar code encoded in aformat of equal width spaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a combinedelectromagnetic-optical communication (“CEMOC”) system includes both anelectromagnetic (“EM”) communication device and an optical communicationdevice where at least a portion of the EM communication device and atleast a portion of the optical communication device are formed from thesame material. The electromagnetic communication device may be anydevice that communicates (e.g., sends information, receives information,or both) using electromagnetic wave energy, such as, for example,television, wireless telephone, a radio transmitter, a radio receiver, aradio transmitter, a radio transponder, or a radio frequencyidentification (“RFID”) tag. The electromagnetic communication devicemay include components such as circuitry for controlling communicationsand a memory for storing data to be transmitted. The opticalcommunication device may be a device that stores and communicatesinformation optically through its physical appearance, such as, human ormachine readable symbols, including, for example, alphanumeric text,brand or corporate logos, or bar codes.

The EM and optical communication devices of the CEMOC system may becombined in a number of ways. According to one embodiment of theinvention, EM communication device 20 and optical communication device30 of CEMOC System 10 may be combined by forming them on a singlesubstrate 40, as shown in FIG. 1.

This formation of CEMOC System 10 may be accomplished in a number ofways. According to one embodiment of the invention, at least a portionof EM communication device 20 and at least a portion of opticalcommunication device 30 may be formed from conductable ink by printingthem on substrate 40. For example, FIG. 2 is an overhead view of a CEMOCSystem 10 with the EM communication device comprising an RFID tag 202and the optical communication device comprising a bar code 204. RFID tag202 may include an antenna 208 and an integrated circuit (“IC”) 206 thatcontrols communication involving the RFID tag and includes a memory thatmay store data. At least a portion of RFID tag 202, such as antenna 208,and bar code 204 may both be printed on substrate 40 using a metallic orother ink capable of conducting electromagnetic energy and an inkjetprinter or other known printing device capable of printing using suchink. The IC 206 may be mounted onto substrate 40 before or after antenna208 and bar code 204 are printed. In either case, IC 206 and antenna 208are coupled so that IC 206 may transmit and/or receive data throughantenna 208.

Another way in which CEMOC System 10 may be formed is through a printingtechnique involving etching. According to another embodiment of theinvention, at least a portion of EM communication device 20 and at leasta portion of optical communication device 30 may be formed from aconductable material by removing portions of the material so that whatremains of the conductable material comprises at least a portion of theEM communication device and at least a portion of the opticalcommunication device. For example, referring again to FIG. 2, a scribinglaser, which removes material as it burns, may be used to etch theantenna 208 and bar code 204 from a conductable foil. The antenna 208and bar code 204 may then be fixed onto substrate 40, e.g., using anadhesive. Alternatively, a sheet of foil may be adhered to substrate 40first and then antenna 208 and bar code 204 etched from the foil. Beforeor after antenna 208 and bar code 204 are formed, the IC 206 may bemounted onto substrate 40 so that IC 206 is coupled to the antenna insuch a way as to be able to transmit and/or receive data through antenna208.

Another way in which the EM and optical communication devices of theCEMOC system may be combined is for the optical communication device tobe coupled to the EM communication device and to function as an antennafor the EM communication device. For example, FIG. 3 is an overhead viewof a CEMOC System 15 where the EM communication device comprises an RFIDtag including an IC 17 and an antenna 18. Antenna 18 also functions asthe optical communication device of CEMOC System 15 such that thephysical appearance of antenna 18 stores and provides informationoptically. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, antenna 18 may be shaped inthe form of a linear bar code.

The CEMOC System with the combined antenna/optical communication devicemay be formed using similar techniques as described above in connectionwith FIG. 2. Thus, at least a portion of the antenna and at least aportion of optical communication device 30 may be printed usingconductable ink or etched from a conductable material. Also, opticalcommunication device 30 may be formed as a free-standing antenna, e.g.,not formed on a substrate.

Where the CEMOC System includes an antenna shaped in the form of a barcode, two or more of the bars of the antenna/bar code may be connectedso as to provide a continuous path coupled to the EM communicationdevice. As is known by those in the art, this continuous path should beof a suitable length and width and be formed of such conductablematerial so as to enable the continuous path to serve as a suitableantenna for the communication function being performed by the EMcommunication device, e.g., RFID tag communication.

The bars of the bar code may be connected in any manner that does notinterfere with the ability of a bar code scanner to effectively read theantenna as a bar code. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, each bar ofantenna/bar code 18 may be attached to the subsequent bar of antenna/barcode 18 at alternating ends in a snaking fashion.

The optical communication device of the CEMOC system of the presentinvention may include one or more parts each of which may have adifferent appearance and store and convey different information. Forexample, in FIGS. 2 and 3, the optical communication devices include asingle part, e.g., a bar code. In the example CEMOC System 10 of FIG. 4,optical communication device 30 includes a bar code 204 as well as humanreadable text. The different parts of optical communication device 30may form a composite image, such as the EPC bar code shown in FIG. 3.However, the different parts of optical communication device 30 need notrepresent related information. Also, some parts of optical communicationdevice 30 may include decorative symbols or brand or corporate logos.

Where the CEMOC System includes an optical communication device thatalso functions as an antenna for the EM communication device, two ormore of the parts of the optical communication device may form acontinuous path to serve as the antenna. For example, CEMOC System 15shown in FIG. 5 includes an optical communication device with fourparts, e.g., a linear bar code, text below the bar code, and a smallerand a larger instance of the corporate logo “SNX”. As shown in FIG. 5,the linear bar code and the larger instance of the corporate logo form acontinuous path to serve as the antenna for the EM communication devicewhich, in FIG. 5, is an RFID tag.

Where the optical communication device of the CEMOC system includesseveral parts, the parts may all be formed at the same time or they maybe formed at different times. For example, decorative symbols or logosmay be printed on the substrate prior to the printing of the bar codepart. In another example, human readable text may be added to thesubstrate after the printing of the bar code.

In the examples shown above, the optical communication device of theCEMOC system include a linear bar code. However, non-linear bar codesmay be used as well. For example, an RSS bar code may be used in theembodiments shown in either FIG. 2 or 3.

Also, different bar code formats may provide certain advantages. Forexample, where a subtractive technique is used to print the bar code,e.g., etching, a bar code of a format providing for equal width spacescould be created more efficiently and quickly than a bar code of aformat not providing for equal width spaces. For example, the bar codeshown in FIG. 5 is of the UPC (A) format which allows for four differentthicknesses of background space. Thus, in a laser etching process wherethe laser is set to etch a predetermined width, several passes may berequired to etch a space depending on the width of the space that hasbeen coded in that bar code. In the example shown in FIG. 6, CEMOCSystem 15 includes optical communication device in the form ofantenna/bar code 18 that is coded in the Code 25 bar code format. Thisbar code format uses only equal width spaces between bars. Consequently,a laser set to etch a predetermined width need only make a single passto etch each space.

Having both optical and electromagnetic communication devices, the CEMOCsystem of the present invention as described above may provideinformation to users both visually and through electromagnetic waves.For example, where the optical communication device encodes certaininformation as a bar code, a user may retrieve the encoded informationusing known bar code scanners that use conventional line-of-sightscanning techniques, such as laser, CCD, and wand type scanners. Wherethe electromagnetic communication device is an RFID tag, a standard RFIDreader may be used to read the information stored in the RFID tag'smemory.

Where the CEMOC system of the present invention described above iscombined on or mounted on a substrate, any type of substrate capable ofsupporting both the EM communication device and the opticalcommunication device of the CEMOC system may be used. For example, thesubstrate may comprise a product tag or label. In addition, thesubstrate may comprise the packaging for a product.

Any substrate used should not interfere with the functionality of the EMand optical communication devices of the CEMOC system. For example,where the optical communication device includes a bar code, the surfaceof the substrate should be able to serve as a background for the barcode.

Thus, using the printing techniques described above, at least a portionof the EM communication device and at least a portion of the opticalcommunication device of the CEMOC system of the present invention may beformed by, for example, printing them directly on a product tag, labelor packaging using conductable ink. Alternatively, at least a portion ofthe EM communication device and at least a portion of the opticalcommunication device of the CEMOC system of the present invention may beformed by, for example, affixing a conductable material, e.g., a copperfoil, directly on a product tag, label or packaging, and removing, e.g.,by etching, unnecessary material so that the material that remains formsthe portions of the EM and optical communication devices.

Where the CEMOC system is used in environments exposing it to physicalor environmental stress, it may be desirable to protect it from suchstress. According to an embodiment of the invention, a protective layeris applied over the CEMOC system that does not interfere with the auser's communication with either communication device of the CEMOCsystem. For example, where the CEMOC system is combined on or mounted ona substrate, the protective layer may be placed over the CEMOC systemand affixed to the CEMOC system and/or the substrate. So as not tointerfere with the communication involving the optical communicationdevice, the protective layer may be clear. Alternatively, the protectivelayer may be mostly opaque with a clear portion covering the opticalcommunication device.

Thus, for example, the CEMOC system could be combined or mounted on aproduct package meant for retail, e.g., a box of breakfast cereal, andplaced on the outside and bottom of the package at the location where abar code identifying the product would conventionally be found. Theprotective layer would protect the integrity of the CEMOC system whileallowing the optical communication device to be read, for example, inorder to identify the product at a checkout counter.

If desired, the CEMOC system of the present invention may be combined ormounted on a substrate in such a way as to be rendered ineffectiveduring the course of normal intended use. For example, where the CEMOCsystem is used as a product package identifier, after the product issold, the identifier is no longer needed and, in such cases, it may bedesirable for the CEMOC system to no longer function after the sale.Where the CEMOC system includes an RFID tag, this may be accomplished bycombining or mounting the CEMOC system on the product packaging over anarea at which the package is to be opened. For example, the CEMOC systemcould combined or mounted directly over the tear-open mouth of a packageso that when the package is opened, the integrity of the RFID tag isdestroyed so that RFID tag can no longer transmit its storedinformation.

Although the EM and optical communication devices of the CEMOC system ofthe present invention may store the same information, in certaincircumstances it may be desirable for them to store differentinformation. For example, since the optical communication device storesand conveys information through its physical appearance, e.g., as with abar code, it may be possible for information encoded in the opticalcommunication device to be fixed. However, since the EM communicationdevice stores its information in a memory, the EM communication device'sinformation may be changeable. As such, it may be desirable for theinformation stored in the EM communication device's memory to supplementthe information stored in the optical communication device. For example,where the CEMOC system includes an RFID tag and a bar code, the bar codemay encode a product ID and the memory of the RFID tag may storeshipping instructions for the product.

The CEMOC system of the present invention described above provides manyadvantages. Where it is desirable to have the functionality of both anelectromagnetic communication device, e.g., RFID tag, and an opticalcommunication device, e.g., bar code, both of these may be printedduring the same operation according to the techniques described above.Creating both an electromagnetic communication device, e.g., RFID tag,and an optical communication device, e.g., bar code, in the sameoperation easily allows for both devices to be encoded with the sameinformation at one time.

The CEMOC system of the present invention may also be advantageous fortechnology migration. For example, where the CEMOC system is a productpackage identifier and includes an RFID tag and a bar code, the sameinformation could be encoded in both the RFID tag and bar code, therebyallowing users to extract the information using established bar codesystems or newer RFID reading systems. This would allow for easytransition for a user migrating from a bar code to an RFID system.

While the invention has been described and illustrated in connectionwith preferred embodiments, many variations and modifications as will beevident to those skilled in this art may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention, and the invention is thus not tobe limited to the precise details of methodology or construction setforth above as such variations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention. Except to the extentnecessary or inherent in the processes themselves, no particular orderto steps or stages of methods or processes described in this disclosure,including the Figures, is implied. In many cases the order of processsteps may be varied without changing the purpose, effect or import ofthe methods described.

1. A communication system comprising: a radio frequency communicationdevice; an optical communication device including at least a bar codesymbol; and a protective covering over both the radio frequencycommunication device and the optical communication device; wherein atleast a portion of the radio frequency communication device and at leasta portion of the bar code symbol are formed from the same material;wherein the information encoded by the optical communication device canbe optically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein aportion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequencycommunication device is opaque and a portion of the protective coveringthat covers the optical communication device is transparent.
 2. Thecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the radio frequencycommunication device includes an RFID tag.
 3. The communication systemof claim 1, wherein the material forming at least a portion of the radiofrequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar codesymbol includes a conductable ink.
 4. The communication system of claim1, wherein the material forming at least a portion of the radiofrequency communication device and at least a portion of the bar codesymbol includes a conductable foil.
 5. The communication system of claim4, wherein the bar code symbol is of a format providing for equal widthspaces between bars.
 6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein theoptical communication device includes one or more alphanumeric symbols.7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the opticalcommunication device includes one or more logos.
 8. The communicationsystem of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency communication deviceincludes a memory that stores information that is identical to theinformation encoded by the bar code symbol.
 9. The communication systemof claim 8, wherein the information stored in the memory and encoded bythe bar code symbol identify a product.
 10. The communication system ofclaim 1, wherein the radio frequency communication device includes amemory that stores information that supplements the information encodedby the bar code symbol.
 11. A communication system comprising: a radiofrequency communication device including at least an antenna; an opticalcommunication device including at least a bar code symbol; and aprotective coating over both the radio frequency communication deviceand the optical communication device; wherein at least a portion of theantenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol are formed fromthe same material, wherein at least a portion of the antenna includes atleast a portion of the bar code symbol; wherein the information encodedby the optical communication device can be optically communicatedthrough the protective covering; and wherein a portion of the protectivecovering that covers the radio frequency communication device is opaqueand a portion of the protective covering that covers the opticalcommunication device is transparent.
 12. The communication system ofclaim 11, wherein the radio frequency communication device includes anRFID tag.
 13. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the materialforming at least a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of thebar code symbol includes a conductable ink.
 14. The communication systemof claim 11, wherein the material forming at least a portion of theantenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol includes aconductable foil.
 15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein thebar code symbol is of a format providing for equal width spaces betweenbars.
 16. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the opticalcommunication device includes one or more alphanumeric symbols.
 17. Thecommunication system of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of theantenna includes at least one of the one or more alphanumeric symbols.18. The communication system of claim 11, wherein the opticalcommunication device includes one or more logos.
 19. The communicationsystem of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the antenna includesat least one of the one or more logos.
 20. The communication system ofclaim 11, wherein the radio frequency communication device includes amemory that stores information that is identical to the informationencoded by the bar code symbol.
 21. The communication system of claim20, wherein the information stored in the memory and encoded by the barcode symbol identify a product.
 22. The communication system of claim11, wherein the radio frequency communication device includes a memorythat stores information that supplements the information encoded by thebar code symbol.
 23. A method for providing a communications systemincluding a radio frequency communications device and an opticalcommunications device, wherein the radio frequency communication deviceincludes a communications controller, a memory, and an antenna, andwherein the optical communications device includes at least a bar codesymbol, the method comprising: providing the communications controllerand the memory on a substrate; providing the antenna and the opticalcommunications device on the substrate using the same material for atleast a portion of the antenna and at least a portion of the bar codesymbol; and providing a protective covering over both the radiofrequency communications device and an optical communications device,wherein information encoded by the optical communication device can beoptically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein aportion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequencycommunication device is opaque and a portion of the protective coveringthat covers the optical communication device is transparent.
 24. Themethod of claim 23, wherein the material used is a conductable ink. 25.The method of claim 23, wherein the material used is a conductable foil.26. The method of claim 25, wherein the conductable foil is affixed tothe substrate, and wherein the step of providing the antenna and opticalcommunications device on the substrate comprises removing portions ofthe foil so that the portions of the foil remaining form the portion ofthe antenna and the portion of the bar code symbol.
 27. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the step of removing portions of the foil comprisesusing a laser etching process to remove the portions of the foil.
 28. Amethod for providing a communications system including a radio frequencycommunications device and an optical communications device, wherein theradio frequency communication device includes a communicationscontroller, a memory, and an antenna, and wherein the opticalcommunications device includes at least a bar code symbol, the methodcomprising: providing the communications controller and the memory on asubstrate; providing the antenna and the optical communications deviceon the substrate using the same material for at least a portion of theantenna and at least a portion of the bar code symbol so that at least aportion of the antenna includes at least a portion of the bar codesymbol; and providing a protective covering over both the radiofrequency communications device and an optical communications device,wherein information encoded by the optical communication device can beoptically communicated through the protective covering; and wherein aportion of the protective covering that covers the radio frequencycommunication device is opaque and a portion of the protective coveringthat covers the optical communication device is transparent.
 29. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the material used is a conductable ink. 30.The method of claim 28, wherein the material used is a conductable foil.31. The method of claim 30, wherein the conductable foil is affixed tothe substrate, and wherein the step of providing the antenna and opticalcommunications device on the substrate comprises removing portions ofthe foil so that the portions of the foil remaining form the portion ofthe antenna and the portion of the bar code symbol.
 32. The method ofclaim 31, wherein the step of removing portions of the foil comprisesusing a laser etching process to remove the portions of the foil.